Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India
by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words
This page relates ‘Lower Garments (d): Nivi (lower garment)� of the study on cosmetics, costumes and ornaments of ancient India based on Sanskrit sources. Chapter one deals with cosmetics and methods of enhancing beauty; Chapter two deals with costumes, garments and dresses; Chapter three deals with ornaments for humans and animals. Each chapter deals with their respective materials, types, preparation and trade, as prevalent in ancient Indian society.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
2.2. Lower Garments (d): ±·Ä«±¹¾± (lower garment)
The term ±·Ä«±¹¾± is used in different senses. According to one tradition, ±·Ä«±¹¾± is the name given to lower garments in general, while some others mentioned it only as a portion of the lower garment, either the knot that keeps the garment in position or some fringes hanging down from it. These fringes were usually formed in between the two legs. ±ÊÄåṇi²Ô¾±[1] in one context has referred to ±·Ä«±¹¾± as a waist band that keeps the lower garment in position. However the earliest reference to ±·Ä«±¹¾± is found in Atharvaveda[2]. In °Õ²¹¾±³Ù³Ù¾±°ùÄ«²â²¹-²õ²¹á¹ƒh¾±³ÙÄå[3] also we meet with the word ±·Ä«±¹¾±. °Äå±ô¾±»åÄå²õ²¹[4] has ascribed ±·Ä«±¹¾± to the female dress. He has mentioned the slipping of NÄ«vÄ«bandha very often. ±·Ä«±¹¾± was sometimes close fitting and was worn in such a way that lot of pleats were produced in it. Such a style was usually adopted by royal ladies. ´¡³¾²úÄå±ô¾±°ìÄå, characterised by ¶Ù²¹á¹‡á¸¾±[5] is seen in one context as wearing ±·Ä«±¹¾± in the above said manner. °²¹±ô³ó²¹á¹‡a[6] compares such pleats of ±·Ä«±¹¾± to the palm leaves wavering in the wind. The fringed end of ±·Ä«±¹¾± is called as PrÄgÄá¹a[7], which finds mention in Vedic literature.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
´¡á¹£á¹Äå»å³ó²âÄå²âÄ«, IV.3.40
[2]:
VII.2.6, XIV.2.59
[3]:
VI.1.1.3
[4]:
°³Ü³¾Äå°ù²¹²õ²¹³¾²ú³ó²¹±¹²¹,VII.60,VIII.4; Uttara megha, 5; ¸é²¹²µ³ó³Ü±¹²¹á¹ƒÅ›a, VII.9
[6]:
¸éÄåÂá²¹³Ù²¹°ù²¹á¹…g¾±á¹‡i, V,VII
[7]:
SLMK, p.72